Fla. couple who adopted 12 children found slain

[cece]

http://www.northescambia.com/?p=10056

Report: Mexican Mafia Might Be Behind Billings Murders

August 10, 2009

Ties to the Mexican mafia have been mentioned by every suspect in the Byrd and Melanie Billings murders, according to a report published today by a local independent newspaper publisher.

Rick Outzen, publisher of the Independent Weekly, writes in an article on the The Daily Beast that each one of the seven suspects has mentioned the Mexican mafia, with one witness saying “Those guys will kill you”.

As reported last week on NorthEscambia.com, Henry “Cab” Tice, who has been charged with grand theft for stealing from the Billings’ finance company, told investigators that he borrowed $50,000 from the Mexican mafia, and that he was still in debt to them. In his dealings with the Mafia, Sheriff David Morgan said Tice would sell cars across the border to be resold in Mexico. The sheriff said the deals were cash, under-the-table.

Read more about the Mexican mafia connection to all of the suspects in the article by Outzen on The Daily Beast by clicking here (opens in new window).

[Blue Moon]

You might want to check out the Mobile Fox station for information.  It is a big story on their tv station.  I don't have the link but just do a search.

We rode out Ft. Morgan road yesterday but I didn't see any auto place there.  Doesn't seem to be a big story around Gulf Shores but does around Mobile.  They said this morning it appears to be related to Mexican Mafia.  That is what a salesman told me.  He said they are bad news in this part of the state.

[cece]

You might want to check out the Mobile Fox station for information.  It is a big story on their tv station.  I don't have the link but just do a search.

We rode out Ft. Morgan road yesterday but I didn't see any auto place there.  Doesn't seem to be a big story around Gulf Shores but does around Mobile.  They said this morning it appears to be related to Mexican Mafia.  That is what a salesman told me.  He said they are bad news in this part of the state.

Thank you Blue Moon. 

Here is the link to their home page.  But I couldn't find any updates from them.

http://www.fox10tv.com/

[Blue Moon]

You might want to check out the Mobile Fox station for information.  It is a big story on their tv station.  I don't have the link but just do a search.

We rode out Ft. Morgan road yesterday but I didn't see any auto place there.  Doesn't seem to be a big story around Gulf Shores but does around Mobile.  They said this morning it appears to be related to Mexican Mafia.  That is what a salesman told me.  He said they are bad news in this part of the state.

Thank you Blue Moon. 

Here is the link to their home page.  But I couldn't find any updates from them.

http://www.fox10tv.com/

They said this morning that they had a site off their main page just for this case.  I will look later on after I get back from the Casino's.  See you.

[cece]

You might want to check out the Mobile Fox station for information.  It is a big story on their tv station.  I don't have the link but just do a search.

We rode out Ft. Morgan road yesterday but I didn't see any auto place there.  Doesn't seem to be a big story around Gulf Shores but does around Mobile.  They said this morning it appears to be related to Mexican Mafia.  That is what a salesman told me.  He said they are bad news in this part of the state.

Thank you Blue Moon. 

Here is the link to their home page.  But I couldn't find any updates from them.

http://www.fox10tv.com/

They said this morning that they had a site off their main page just for this case.  I will look later on after I get back from the Casino's.  See you.

Here is a link to their coverage, but I'm not seeing anything new:

http://www.fox10tv.com/generic/news/billings_murder

(Enjoy the Casinos). 
 

[islandmonkey]

   OOPS~left out he last page of the daily beast article:

Connection
by Rick Outzen

Info RSS  Rick Outzen is publisher and editor of Independent News, the alternative newsweekly for Northwest Florida.
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Byrd and Melanie Billings were shot to death by masked intruders inside their secluded home in rural Beulah, Florida, on July 9. Nine of their children were in the house at the time of the murders, and three saw the men in the home and may be witnesses to the shootings.

All seven home intruders are charged with the two murders and a grand jury is set to convene next week. An eighth suspect, Pamela Wiggins, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact and is out on $10,000 bond. Sheriff Morgan has repeatedly told the media that he expects more arrests.

Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. has been identified as the leader of the gang and has been named by at least one suspect as the lone shooter of the Billings couple. Gonzalez, who is in jail without bond along with other six intruders, once worked for Tice, but a close friend of both Tice and Byrd “Bud” Billings tells The Daily Beast their relationship was much more than that. “Cab was a father figure for Patrick,” the friend says. “If any one had any influence over him, it was Cab.”

Just before his arrest, Tice had left the area, as first reported by The Daily Beast. I have confirmed that he traveled to Colombia. In Florida, he lives in a trailer behind English Bobby Auto Sales, where he was a sales manager. Though investigators believe he owed Billings and the Mexican Mafia hundreds of thousands of dollars, he has no visible assets.

[cece]

TY so much IM!  I hope you get your puter back soon.   

I see we have a new addition to our cute monkeys & all I can say is this is how I feel about Ms. Pam still being out on bond.
 

[Blue Moon]

Here is the web link that was on tv this morning.  You might have already found this.  They have one section on the Billings only.

http://www.fox10tv.com/

[Rizzy]

The Dateline show tonight was very interesting.  In case anyone missed it you can find the transcript here .....

Transcript of Dateline 08/10/09

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32364584/ns/dateline_nbc-crime_reports//

[cece]

Good morning & TY for the links Blue Moon & Rizzy.   

[cece]

http://maggiesnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/08/henry-cab-tice-is-byrd-billings.html

Monday, August 10, 2009
Henry Cab Tice is Byrd Billings Arrested Debtor: Tice Billings Mexican Mafia?

[islandmonkey]

 

I'm not sure who all saw the dateline interview last night but several things "got my attention", one was the fact the Gonz Jr was at his place the day of the murders, the fact Tice called Gonz Jr almost directly at the exact time of the murders, the fact Tice tried to say Gonz Jr was "trying to set him up", and when he said I'm innocent of those charges (ummm, hello Cab you haven't even been charged with anything regarding the murders yet........guilty conscience maybe "

[kc1234]

Two things from the below article stands out:  1) # of arrests could double.; 2) one of the 7 could be in the Mexican Mafia.

The Escambia County Sheriff says it's possible the number of arrests could double in the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

Eight people are currently charged in connection with the July murders of the couple inside their Beulah home.

Henry "Cab" Tice is a person of interest in the murders. He tells Dateline NBC he un-wittingly became involved with the Mexican mafia. And although he says he does not believe it is a factor in the murders, authorities are keeping that theory open.


"We can state unequivocally at this time that he has stated to us that he had business dealings with an organization he referred to as the Mexican mafia," Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said.

But Tice tells Dateline, he did not originally know the loan he was getting was from the Mexican Mafia.

Morgan says Tice confessed he got other loans, too, totaling as much as $50,000. In addition the Sheriff said weeks ago, one of the murder suspects, he won't say which one, claims to be a member of the Mexican Mafia. And it's been a common thread with all the suspects.

"That has been a topic yes I will affirm that that's been a topic in every interview that we've conducted," Morgan said. "That tells me that there's a strong current that we had an organized crime element at least involved in Escambia County and to what extent it involved directly with the Billings murders we're not sure at this time."

Tice, who was arrested for stealing from one of Byrd Billings' businesses remains a person of interest in the killings. Because of his ties to the victims and his apparent close relationship with the accused mastermind Leonard Gonzales, Jr.

"He's the topic of discussion at this moment, but there are others that share much of the same elements in this case that we are also actively investigating," Morgan said.

The Sheriff says these are people with business dealings, family ties or friendships with the Billings. He expects the arrests could easily rise to 11 or 12, but maybe even 16.



http://www.nbc15online.com/news/local/story/Sheriff-Arrests-In-Billings-Murders-Could-Double/k7YTAMp2N02kYmk-TcfOqg.cspx

[islandmonkey]

  Finaly confirmation that there was a second safe with substantial $$ inside as we've heard rumored

164,000, jewelry were in second Billings safe
From staff reports • August 11, 2009

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  A second safe at the home of Byrd and Melanie Billings contained $164,000, antique jewelry and legal documents, according to an attorney for the victims' family.



Attorney Robert Beasley said today that the money was a cash reserve for the Billingses' financing business. The money was removed as possible evidence.


"Contrary to rumors of as much as $12 million dollars in the home the night of the murders, the second safe contained $164,000 in cash, some antique jewelry and assorted legal documents," Beasley said in a press release. "There were no drugs, guns or any other items which suggested illegal activity found in the home."


Byrd and Melanie Billings were slain in their home July 9, and rumors of a second safe have circulated since. Beasley confirmed its existence after meeting with the state's attorney.


http://www.pnj.com/article/20090811/NEWS01/90811018

[islandmonkey]

Two things from the below article stands out:  1) # of arrests could double.; 2) one of the 7 could be in the Mexican Mafia.

The Escambia County Sheriff says it's possible the number of arrests could double in the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

Eight people are currently charged in connection with the July murders of the couple inside their Beulah home.

Henry "Cab" Tice is a person of interest in the murders. He tells Dateline NBC he un-wittingly became involved with the Mexican mafia. And although he says he does not believe it is a factor in the murders, authorities are keeping that theory open.


"We can state unequivocally at this time that he has stated to us that he had business dealings with an organization he referred to as the Mexican mafia," Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said.

But Tice tells Dateline, he did not originally know the loan he was getting was from the Mexican Mafia.

Morgan says Tice confessed he got other loans, too, totaling as much as $50,000. In addition the Sheriff said weeks ago, one of the murder suspects, he won't say which one, claims to be a member of the Mexican Mafia. And it's been a common thread with all the suspects.

"That has been a topic yes I will affirm that that's been a topic in every interview that we've conducted," Morgan said. "That tells me that there's a strong current that we had an organized crime element at least involved in Escambia County and to what extent it involved directly with the Billings murders we're not sure at this time."

Tice, who was arrested for stealing from one of Byrd Billings' businesses remains a person of interest in the killings. Because of his ties to the victims and his apparent close relationship with the accused mastermind Leonard Gonzales, Jr.

"He's the topic of discussion at this moment, but there are others that share much of the same elements in this case that we are also actively investigating," Morgan said.

The Sheriff says these are people with business dealings, family ties or friendships with the Billings. He expects the arrests could easily rise to 11 or 12, but maybe even 16.



http://www.nbc15online.com/news/local/story/Sheriff-Arrests-In-Billings-Murders-Could-Double/k7YTAMp2N02kYmk-TcfOqg.cspx

ITA~when I heard that the number of arrest could double, I honestly thought I must have heard that wrong, but then local NBC ran a follow up after Dateline and sure enough that is what was said. I cna't imagine this case getting any weirder to be honest, but I'm sure it will

[Blue Moon]

Finaly confirmation that there was a second safe with substantial $$ inside as we've heard rumored

164,000, jewelry were in second Billings safe
From staff reports • August 11, 2009

Print this page E-mail this article Share Del.icio.us
 Facebook
 Digg
 Reddit
 Newsvine
 Buzz up!Twitter
  A second safe at the home of Byrd and Melanie Billings contained $164,000, antique jewelry and legal documents, according to an attorney for the victims' family.



Attorney Robert Beasley said today that the money was a cash reserve for the Billingses' financing business. The money was removed as possible evidence.


"Contrary to rumors of as much as $12 million dollars in the home the night of the murders, the second safe contained $164,000 in cash, some antique jewelry and assorted legal documents," Beasley said in a press release. "There were no drugs, guns or any other items which suggested illegal activity found in the home."


Byrd and Melanie Billings were slain in their home July 9, and rumors of a second safe have circulated since. Beasley confirmed its existence after meeting with the state's attorney.


http://www.pnj.com/article/20090811/NEWS01/90811018

I just knew there had to be something of value big time in a safe.  Why else would anyone enter that home and kill 2 people if they did not know what was there.  Sounds like they took the wrong safe and didn't know it til it was too late. 

[Fanny Mae]

Finaly confirmation that there was a second safe with substantial $$ inside as we've heard rumored

164,000, jewelry were in second Billings safe
From staff reports • August 11, 2009

Print this page E-mail this article Share Del.icio.us
 Facebook
 Digg
 Reddit
 Newsvine
 Buzz up!Twitter
  A second safe at the home of Byrd and Melanie Billings contained $164,000, antique jewelry and legal documents, according to an attorney for the victims' family.



Attorney Robert Beasley said today that the money was a cash reserve for the Billingses' financing business. The money was removed as possible evidence.


"Contrary to rumors of as much as $12 million dollars in the home the night of the murders, the second safe contained $164,000 in cash, some antique jewelry and assorted legal documents," Beasley said in a press release. "There were no drugs, guns or any other items which suggested illegal activity found in the home."


Byrd and Melanie Billings were slain in their home July 9, and rumors of a second safe have circulated since. Beasley confirmed its existence after meeting with the state's attorney.


http://www.pnj.com/article/20090811/NEWS01/90811018

I just knew there had to be something of value big time in a safe.  Why else would anyone enter that home and kill 2 people if they did not know what was there.  Sounds like they took the wrong safe and didn't know it til it was too late. 

I believe the second safe was put in at the time of construction of the house. I know of someone else that did this, and it was cemented into place, and would have taken a jack-hammer to remove it. Since I believe this was a hit from the beginning, the ninja gang didn't know about the second safe, because they were never told about it's location. They couldn't have taken it anyway, but I believe the combination of the first safe was forced out of the Billings before they were killed. They didn't know to get the combination of the second one.

I actually think the people that did the killing were set up. Every one of them were responsible for the murders, even though I believe it was Gonz Jr that actually did the shooting. The rest probably didn't know it was going to be a hit. They were suckered in. JMO

[Fanny Mae]

I'm not sure who all saw the dateline interview last night but several things "got my attention", one was the fact the Gonz Jr was at his place the day of the murders, the fact Tice called Gonz Jr almost directly at the exact time of the murders, the fact Tice tried to say Gonz Jr was "trying to set him up", and when he said I'm innocent of those charges (ummm, hello Cab you haven't even been charged with anything regarding the murders yet........guilty conscience maybe "

ITA. The fact he was the one on the other end of the phone during that time period just screams to me that he knew what was going on. He may have been the intermediary for the person that really had this done, but he has blood on his hands too. The fact he was on camera with his crocodile tears doesn't move me. He is a crooked, stealing "used car salesman" for God's sakes. Since when can you trust a snake oil salesman? Tice says he didn't know that his loan was from the Mexican Mafia at first. Are you kidding me?? He has been wheeling and dealing across South American lines for a long time. He knew exactly what he was doing.

I still think their was a closer connection to the Billings for the cause of the murder. I have seen nothing that really moves me off of that. As far as more people being arrested, that surprises me not at all. I just hope they go all the way to the top of this thing and bite it off at the jugular vein.

I wonder how Mr Eddins is squirming around in his padded executive chair today? I am sure he did not approve Sheriff Morgan's little cameo last night on Dateline. He sure wasn't singing the same song as Morgan was singing last night. All he would talk about was a "home invasion."

Where is Pamela, and why is that b*tch still walking the streets or sailing on her yatch??? jmo

[Fanny Mae]

Two things from the below article stands out:  1) # of arrests could double.; 2) one of the 7 could be in the Mexican Mafia.

The Escambia County Sheriff says it's possible the number of arrests could double in the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

Eight people are currently charged in connection with the July murders of the couple inside their Beulah home.

Henry "Cab" Tice is a person of interest in the murders. He tells Dateline NBC he un-wittingly became involved with the Mexican mafia. And although he says he does not believe it is a factor in the murders, authorities are keeping that theory open.


"We can state unequivocally at this time that he has stated to us that he had business dealings with an organization he referred to as the Mexican mafia," Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said.

But Tice tells Dateline, he did not originally know the loan he was getting was from the Mexican Mafia.

Morgan says Tice confessed he got other loans, too, totaling as much as $50,000. In addition the Sheriff said weeks ago, one of the murder suspects, he won't say which one, claims to be a member of the Mexican Mafia. And it's been a common thread with all the suspects.

"That has been a topic yes I will affirm that that's been a topic in every interview that we've conducted," Morgan said. "That tells me that there's a strong current that we had an organized crime element at least involved in Escambia County and to what extent it involved directly with the Billings murders we're not sure at this time."

Tice, who was arrested for stealing from one of Byrd Billings' businesses remains a person of interest in the killings. Because of his ties to the victims and his apparent close relationship with the accused mastermind Leonard Gonzales, Jr.

"He's the topic of discussion at this moment, but there are others that share much of the same elements in this case that we are also actively investigating," Morgan said.

The Sheriff says these are people with business dealings, family ties or friendships with the Billings. He expects the arrests could easily rise to 11 or 12, but maybe even 16.



http://www.nbc15online.com/news/local/story/Sheriff-Arrests-In-Billings-Murders-Could-Double/k7YTAMp2N02kYmk-TcfOqg.cspx

WELCOME kc1234!!!

I have been seeing you up in the rafters and wondered when you were going to post. Nice first post, as a matter of fact.

[kc1234]

Thanks for the welcome!     
 
The silence in this case is telling.  The national media is silent, the friends and family are silent.  Sure Ashley and family's attorney have spoken, but that has been controlled and limited in scope. Normally, friends and family of those arrested come out to these boards and/or talk to the media stating that the alleged criminal is really a good person.  What is telling in this case is the complete silence from anyone claiming to be close to those arrested, linked or a named POI.  The only things we have heard was from the juvenile's father claiming that his son was more afraid of other people than he was about the police or getting arrested.  I have two theories, either Jr is a hitman for the Mexican Mafia, or he watched too many heist movies and came up with a maniacal plan to rob the Billings and convinced the others to join the plan.  What if the Mexican Mafia claims are empty in order to get the investigators to think that Tice is not the one calling the hit?  If the Mexican Mafia was the one calling the hit, don't you think Tice would rather be in jail than walking the streets?